Reversing-valve.



No. 837,427. PATENTED DEC. 4 1906.

B. sMARTT. REVERSING VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 28.1906.

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No. 837,427, PATENTED DEC. 4, 190a.

- B. SMARTT.

REVEBSING VALVE.

APPLIOATION FILED DBOL28.1905.

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32 1450 I II II I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BRINAY SMARTT, OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR TO THE SMARTT INVENTING& MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF TENNESSEE.

REVERSlNG-VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 4, 1906.

A li ti fil d December 28, 1905. Serial No. 293,694.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, BRINAY SMARTT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Nashville, in the county of Davidson and State of Tennessee,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reversing-Valves;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of my invention is generally the provision of areversing-valve device designed particularly for locomotive-engines,which shall be simple in construction and exceedingly reliable andpositive in its action. I do not confine my invention to applicationwith locomotive-engines, as it may be employed in many other kinds ofmachinery, wherever its use may be efficacious-for instance, instationary engines, steamboat-engines, steamship-engines, war-shipengines,

automobile-engines, &c.

More specifically, the object is by the employment of mypeculiarly-constructed reversing-valve with a short lever andintermediate connections to obviate the employment of the usual linkmotion. Thus in a locomotive the operation of my reversing-valve devicewill be exceedingly easy as compared with the customary linkarrangement, as the reversing-valve is with greatest facility and easeoperated by a small lever (which may be about the size of the ordinarythrottle-lever) conveniently located in the locomotive-cab. By myinvention a cumbersome six-foot lever, say, is supplanted by a smalleasily-operated lever, so that at the same time an engineer may operatethe reversing-valve lever with one hand and the throttle-lever with theother hand, all as shown and described in my patent, No. 799,498,September 12, 1905.

As a matter of further and specific improvement I so construct thereversingvalve relative to the other parts of the mechanism of my devicethat it may entirely out off the steam from the cylinder when desired,thus taking the place and performing the function of the throttle whennecessary.

The object is, finally, to provide great freedom of passage of steam,both entering and exhausting to lessen friction, and to obviatepossibility of binding of working parts.

I/Vith these objects in view and others appearing as the specificationproceeds my invention comprehends the novel construction, combination,and arrangement of parts of a device characterized by my invention, ashereinafter fully described in the specification, summed up in theclaims, and illustrated in the drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a central verticallongitudinal section of the steam-chest and underlying cylinder,displaying the relation of the steam-valve and the reversing-valve, thesteam-valve being at one extreme of its range of movement. Fig. 2 is alike view, the steam-valve being at the other extreme of its range ofmovement. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with the reversing-valvemoved to effect reversing of the direction of movement of the engine.Fig. 4 is a detail top plan view of the steam-valve. Fig. 5 is a detailunder plan View of the steam-valve. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective viewof the steam-valve seat. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of thereversing-valve. Fig. Sis a cross-section on line 8 8, Fig. 6.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, 1 designates a cylinder with apiston 2 and connected piston-rod 3 working therein. Above the cylinderand connected therewith in any suitable manner is a steam-chest 4. Inthe wall or partition 5, separatin the steamchest and underlyingcylinderj form a central exhaust-port 6 and on opposite sides thereoftwo pairs of ports 7 S and 9 10, each pair leading to opposite ends ofthe cylinder, though the ports 8 and 9 may merge, as shown in dottedlines in Fig. 1, at any suitable point into the ports 10 and 7,respectively, and each pair of said two pairs of ports would in thisinstance have a common exit or outlet into the steam-cylinder 1.

Located in the steam-chest 4 and supported in contact with'the wall 5 ismy peculiarly-constructed removable steam-valve seat (designatedgenerally by 11, Fig. 6) and comprising a substantially oblongsha edplate 12, having flanges or downturned 0ngitudinal edges 13 13 andhaving five transverse slots or ports 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18, port 16constituting the exhaust-passage. While my steam-valve seat may beformed as a floating seat, (that is, entirely unattached to any part ofthe device,) I have in this instance shown the same as removably securedto the wall 5 by screws 19, and disnear theends of the valve.

posed between the flanges 13 13 and the top of wall 5 and surroundingthe lower projecting portion of the shanks of the screws may be what Iterm balance-springs 20, being spiral coils exerting upward pressure ortension on the steam-valve seat 1 1, for a purpose presently appearing.Also located in the chest 4 and supported in contact with the wall 5 andworking underand guided by the flanges of the steam-valve seat 11 is mypeculiarly-constructed reversing-valve (desig nated generally by 21.,Fig. 7) and comprising, preferably, an oblong-shaped plate 22, havingfour ports or slots 23, 24, 25, and 26, port 24 normally constitutingthe exhaust passage and being, as shown, much larger than the otherports to facilitate passage of exhausting-steam. Then the reversingvalve21 is actuated, however, port 25 constitutes the exhaust.

The openings for passage of steam are so arranged, as shown, that whenthe reversingvalve 21 is at a point in the middle of its range ofmovement from one end of the steam-chest to the other all ports. in the"steam-valve seat 11 are blanked, thus effectively cutting off steam fromthe cylinder, wherefore my reversing-valve may be used instead and toperform the function of the throttle when necessary or desired, as inthe case of an emergency and the throttle refusing to work.

Adapted for reciprocatory movement on the steam-valve seat is mypeculiarly-formed steam-valve (designated generally by 27, Fig. 5) anddesirably comprising a substantially square plate 28, provided,preferably, with a top knob or projection 29, adapted to be engaged by aremovable collar 30 for removable engagement with the steam-valvepropelling or actuating stem 31 and with two transverse slots or ports32 33, disposed My steam-valve is constructed hollow, with the exceptionof walls 34 and 35, surrounding the ports 32 and 33 and being of thesame depth as the steamvalve, and by thus peculiarly constructing thevalve I get great space for exhausting steam, thus largely reducingfriction. It will be noticed that the walls 32 and 33 form channels 34and 35, communicating with the larger space or chamber 37 of the hollowvalve.

Any well-known or desired intermediate mechanisms for connecting up thesteamvalve with the eccentrics on the axles of the driving-wheels andfor effecting movement of the reversing-valve may be utilized; but mypreferred and improved forms of mechan isms for accomplishing theseresults are fully disclosed in my patent above-mentioned, and repetitionthereof here is deemed unneces sar I t will be noted that thebalance-springs 2O prevent any possible sticking or binding of thereveising-valve, which might other wise occur, and in use thesteam-valve seat may be screwed down closer or adjusted as desired, allas the exigencies of the particular situation may require.

T he operation of the deotce.1n the position of the parts of the deviceshown in Fig. 1 the steam-valve is just beyond port 18 in thesteam-valve seat, and steam enters directly through this port 18 andthrough alining port 26 in the reversing-valve beneath and intoregistering port or passage 10 in the divisionwall, from whence itenters the cylinder at the right-hand end thereof, forcing the pistonforward. This movement of the piston forces exhausting steam up throughport or passage 7 at the left-hand end of the cylinder through aliningport 23 in the reversing-valve and through registering port 14 in thesteamvalve seat into channel 34, whence it escapes to the larger chamber37 of the steam-valve and into the exhaust or central port 16 of thesteam-valve seat, thence through large exhaust-port 24 in thereversing-valve into exhaust-port 6 in the division-wall and throughexhaust-chamber 36, leading to the smokestack of the engine. Theeccentrics on the axles of the driving-wheels then cause the steam-valveto move to the position shown in Fig. 2, thus bringing the valve justbeyond the port 14 in the steam-valve seat. Then the entering steampasses directly through said port 14, through alining port 23 in thereversing-valve, and through registering port or passage 7 in thedivision-wall, and out into the forward or right-hand end of thecylinder, forcing the piston backward. The exhausting steam is therebycaused to pass up through the port or passage 10 at the extremeright-hand end of the cylinder into the alining port 26 in thereversing-valve, into registering port 18 of the steam-valve seat,thence into the channel 35 of the hollow steam-valve, communicating withthe larger chamber 37 thereof, the exhausting steam thus escaping to andthrough central exhaust-port 16 of the' steam-valve seat and through thelarge registering exhaust-port 24 of the reversing-valve, intoexhaust-port 6 in the division-wall, and through exhaustcham ber 36,leading to the smoke-stack of the engine.

Suppose it be desired to reverse the direction of movement of theengine. To effect this result, the reversing-valve is moved forward tothe position. shown in Fig. 3,v thus blanking the ports 14 and 18 of thesteamvalve seat. In this position of the reversingvalve the ports 32 and33 of the steam-valve, (not hitherto used,) the ports 15 and 17 of thesteam-valve seat, (not hitherto used,) and the ports 8 and 9 in thedivision-wall (not hitherto used) come into playthat is to say theentering steam passes through the port 33, through alining port 17 ofthe steamvalve seat, through registering port 26 of the reversing-valve,and through the port or passage 9 in the division-wall leading to theright-hand end of the cylinder. This forces the piston forward, and theexhausting steam is thereby caused to pass up through the port orpassage 8 in the division-wall into the large alining port 2% in thereversing-valve, into registering port 15 in the steam-valve seat,thence into the large chamber 37 of the hollow steam-valve, whence itpasses to and through the exhaust-port .16 in the steamvalve seat,communicating with the smokestack of the engine.

Various slight modifications of detail of my invention not embodying adeparture from the spirit thereof fall strictly within the sco e andpurview of my invention.

fiaving thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a cylinder and a steam-chest, of a steam-valveseat within the steam-chest and provided with a central ex haust-portand with two pairs of ports, one pair 011 each side of said centralexhaustport, a normally stationary reversing-valve disposed beneath thesteam-valve seat and provided with ports adapted to registersimultaneously with said central exhaust-port and with one port in eachsaid pair of ports, the reversing-valve, upon movement, beingconstructed simultaneously to blank all but the central exhaust-port andsimultaneously to bring ports thereof into register with the remainingport in each said pair of ports, and a steam-valve on the steam valveseat constructed of an area to embrace, in one position thereof, allports in the steam-valve seat except one port therein registering with aport in the reversing-valve, and constructed, upon movement, to embraceand blank said excepted port and to traverse and clear another portregistering with a port in the reversing-valve said steam-valve beingformed with two ports or elongated openings cut transverselytherethrough and adapted, upon movement of the reversing-valve, toopenup communication for entering steam through one of said ports and aregistering port in the steam-valve seat and the reversing-valverespectively, and, upon movement of said steam-valve, to blank said openport and to bring the other port of the steam-valve into register withanother port in the steam-valve seat registering vith a port in thereversingvalve; said steam-valve being excavated on its under surface soas to form, with the exception of a wall around each port, an entirelyhollow valve.

2. The combination with a cylinder and a steam-chest, of a steam-valveseat within the steam-chest and provided with a central exhaust-port andwith two pairs of ports, one pair on each side of said centralexhaust-port,

a normally stationary reversing-valve disposed beneath the steam-valveseat and provided with ports adapted to register simultaneously withsaid central exhaust-port and with one port in each said pair of ports,the reversing-valve, upon movement, being constructed simultaneously toblank all but the central exhaust-port and simultaneously to bring portsthereof into register with the remaining port in each said pair ofports, and a st'eamvalve on the steam-valve seat constructed of an areato embrace, in one position thereof, all ports in the steam-valve seatexcept one port therein registering with a port in the reversing-valve,and constructed, upon 'movement, to embrace and blank said excepted portand to traverse and clear another port registering with a port in thereversing-valve; said steam-valve being formed with two ports orelongated openings cut transversely therethrough and adapted, uponmovement of the reversing-valve, to openup communication for enteringsteam through one of its said two ports and a registering port in thesteam-valve seat and in the reversing-valve respectively, and, uponmovement of said steam-valve, to blank said open port and to bring theother port of the steamvalve into register with another port in thesteam-valve seat registering with a port in the reversing-valve, saidsteam-valve being excavated on its under surface so as to form, with theexception of a wall around each port, an entirely hollow valve.

- 3. The combination with a cylinder and a steam-chest, of a steam-valveseat within the steam-chest and provided with a central exhaust-port andwith two pairs of ports, one pair on each side of said centralexhaust-port, springs interposed between the steam-valve seat and thebottom of the steam-chest and exerting upward pressure on saidsteam-valve seat, a normally stationary reversing-valve disposed beneaththe steam-valve seat and provided with ports adapted to registersimultaneously with said central exhaust-port and with one port in eachsaid pair of ports, the reversing-valve, upon movement, beingconstructed simultaneously to blank all but the central exhaust-port andsimultaneously to bring ports thereof into register with the remainingport in each said pair of ports, and a steam-valve on the steam-valveseat constructed of an area to embrace, in one position thereof, allports in the steam-valve seat except one port therein registering with aport in the reversing-valve, and constructed upon movement, to embraceand blank said excepted port and to traverse and clear another portregistering with a port in the reversingvalve.

4. The combination with a cylinder and a steam-chest, of a removablesteam-valve seat within the steam-chest and provided with a centralexhaust-port and with two pairs of ports, one pair on each side of saidcentral exhaustport, means for securing said removable steam-valve seatto the steam-chest and projecting beyond the bottom of the steamvalveseat, springs interposed between the steam-valve seat and the bottom ofthe steam-chest and surrounding the projecting portion of said securingmeans and exerting upward tension on the steam-valve seat, a normallystationary reversing-valve disposed beneath the steamvalve seat andprovided with ports adapted to register simultaneously with said centralexhaust-port and with one port in each said pair of ports, the reversingvalve, upon movement, being constructed simultaneously to blank all butthe central. exhaust-port and simultaneously to bring ports thereof intoregister with the remaining port in each said pair of ports, and asteamvalve on the steam-valve seat constructed of an area to embrace, inone position thereof, all ports in the steam-valve seat except one porttherein registering with a port in the reversing-valve, and constructed,upon movement, to embrace and blank said excepted port and to traverseand clear another port registering with a port in the reversing-valve.

5. The combination with a cylinder and a steam-chest, of a steam-valveseat within the steam-chest and provided with downturnedsupporting-flanges and with a central exhaust-port and with two pairs ofports, one.

pair on each side of said central exhaust-port, means passing throughthe supporting-flanges for securing the steam valve seat to thesteam-chest, springs interposed between the flanges and the bottom ofthe steam-chest and surrounding the projecting portion of said securingmeans and exerting upward tension on the steam-valve seat, a normallystationary reversing-valve disposed beneath the steamvalve seat andprovided'with ports adapted to register simultaneously with said centralexhaust-port and with one port in each said pair of ports, thereversing-valve, upon movement, being constructed simultaneously toblank all said ports but the central exhaustport and simultaneously tobring ports thereof into register with the remaining port in each saidpair of ports, and a steam-valve on the steam-valve seat constructed ofan area to embrace, in one position thereof, all ports in thesteam-valve seat except one port therein registering with a port in thereversing-valve, and constructed, upon movement, to embrace and blanksaid excepted port and to traverse and clear another port registeringwith a port in the reversing-valve.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

BRINAY SMARTT. l/Vitnesses:

F. M. STEGER, WM. A. CROsTHWAIT.

